Station Wildfire Injured 2 Riding Out Fire From Backyard Hot Tub

LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles County Sheriff's official says two people tried to ride out the firestorm in Big Tujunga Canyon in a backyard hot tub and were critically burned.

Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said Sunday that the pair "completely underestimated the fire" and the hot tub provided "no protection whatsoever."

The two individuals made their way to firefighters Saturday and were airlifted out by a sheriff's rescue helicopter.

Whitmore says the two people received adequate notification to evacuate from deputies but decided to stay.

Big Tujunga Canyon is on the southwestern edge of the fire burning in the mountains north of Los Angeles.

Another person narrowly escaped by driving through flames in a truck and was not injured.

Comments

[PhilipB]

Flee or fight?

This couple could have made the decision to stay and protect their property with hoses, etc and jumped into the hot-tub filled with water at the last minute.
This desire to protect their possessions is natural, and is seen in hurricanes, floods and the like.

A study was done of people who immediately fled the second Twin tower on 9/11 after the first one was hit. These were shown to be people who had experienced the earlier bombing incident years earlier, and knew they were going to be evacuated anyway. Most importantly, people took their cues from people in authority that they worked with. it was found that many men in senior positions dismissed the danger, and to even discuss it or even look out the window at the building burning next door was to be emotional. "just get back to work" was the message, and people lost their lives who followed that "team player" rationale.
So, in dangerous situations experience matters. People who lived through one hurricane even though they stayed were found to have fled upon learning of the next hurricane in their path.
this is a lesson for all of us. if you were in a situation of increasing danger, would you just flee for your life with just the clothes on your back? If you said yes, your chances for survival is much greater that those who stay to 'fight".

[Lucky123]

I never heard about people in senior management positions not evacuating and suggesting people "just get back to work". Were there actually survivors that admitted to this? That's creepy. And obviously not very responsible.

[PhilipB]

Yes, it was followed up in the "World Trade center evacuation study."
I will find a link.
It was that some people looked to their superiors for permission to leave, and the general attitude, especially by men affected their decision. this corresponds with the 1915 study of "flight or fight"
Lots of good info from this study.
do not check on others or look to others for permission or go back for your belongings and much more.

[R2D2-51]

No matter what any source of authority may tell you, you are the sole proprietor of what decisions you must make that are in your best interest. Otherwise, take your cranium and put it on someone else's neck, which you regard as the responsible party for the ultimate outcomes that occur in your life.

[malodorousgit]

Okay, my message got scrubbed for no apparent reason so I'm trying again a different way.

People cannot help their mental cababilities, and I think it is just as cruel to mock them as it is to mock the physically disabled. Critically burned means that they might well die, and if they lives their lives may well be ruined. This is really very sad.

[Lucky123]

Wow, there's an awful lot of flippant ignor ance in this thread.
I live in California, and not that far from this fire. Allow me to clear up a few misconceptions presented in these comments.
Not everyone in California does coke or cr ack.
Not everyone who owns a hot tub is filthy rich. Or dumb.
Yes, it wasn't smart to not evacuate when the orders were delivered, but some people just can't leave their homes, their lives, behind without a fight. Remove the mention of "hot tubs" and "California", and replace them with whatever you like: Hurricane and New Orleans. Tornado and Oklahoma. Some people stay thinking they can ride it out. I don't condone it, but I do understand it to a certain degree. An evacuation was ordered in my neighborhood a few years ago, and my wife and I grabbed our kids, a few precious belongings, and left. But, others stayed. Luckily, the fire never came close ~ it took an abrupt turn and headed in a different direction. I'll bet that's what these folks were hoping for, and quite possibly, they found out too late that they were wrong, and jumped in the hot tub out of panic. Not because they were stoned and watching the pretty colors.
I don't remember hearing derision toward those who hung around during Katrina. Let go of the cliches and prejudices. These are people like you who are dying and losing everything.

[PhilipB]

Yes.

[R2D2-51]

Its nothing more than bad judgement with huge consequences, and nothing more. Happens everyday all across this planet with equally devasting results. Its why we have rubber on pencils.

[gavrielle]

This is what happens when you get all your information from movies and tv dramas.

[flamenco]

um.... can't flames go over a hottub too?

[KarateKid]

They must have been on medical pot. How anyone can think they can survive by getting into their hot tub is beyond me. Fires are no laughing matter, a friend of mine lost his home in the San Jose foothills and has not rebuilt, after 2 years, because of insurance company resistance. And his house was beautiful.

[R2D2-51]

First and foremost, we do not know all of the facts, especially the specific circumstances that led to the decision they made. We were not there, nor were those who reported it. The information therefore is an after the fact assessment lacking many facts. Assumptions don't help to become well informed to make honest assessments on any life event.

[Lucky123]

Wow, there's an awful lot of flippant ignorance in this thread.
I live in California, and not that far from this fire. Allow me to clear up a few misconceptions presented in these comments.
Not everyone in California does lines or smokes pipes.
Not everyone who owns a hot tub is filthy rich.
People are dying and homes are being destroyed. Remember that.
Yes, it was dumb not to evacuate when the orders were delivered, but some people just can't leave their homes, their lives, behind without a fight. Remove the mention of "hot tubs" and "California", and replace them with whatever you like: Hurricane and New Orleans. Tornado and Oklahoma. Some people stay thinking they can ride it out. I don't condone it, but I do understand it to a certain degree. An evacuation was ordered in my neighborhood a few years ago, and my wife and I grabbed our kids, a few precious belongings, and left. But, others stayed. Luckily, the fire never came close ~ it took an abrupt turn and headed in a different direction. I'll bet that's what these folks were hoping for, and quite possibly, they found out too late that they were wrong, and jumped in the hot tub out of panic. Not because they were stoned and watching the pretty colors.
I don't remember hearing derision toward those who hung around during Katrina. Let go of the cliches and prejudices. These are people like you who are dying and losing everything.

[Lucky123]

After a half an hour, I thought this was scrubbed, so I tried posting a slightly edited version.

[Archivist1000]

Did they think the actual tub wouldn't burn, just because there was water INSIDE it???

[jmar829]

It's only funny if carrots and potatoes are added.

[ute]

hmmmmm... A little gumbo file?

[gavrielle]

LOL!

[Spitzerhopper]

Trailer Park Boys?

[scorpioleidy]

And it never occurred to them that water - surrounded by FIRE - would boil??? Wow ... I don't know what sadder - that this happened, or that they actually thought their brilliant 'plan' would work!

[Poiks]

I SINCERELY doubt that their burns were from the water. Wow, I hope I'm right!

[jmar829]

Maybe not the water, but the stupidity definitely caused these burns.

[gavrielle]

It might not have boiled, but it certainly wasn't breathable for the period of time they'd have had to be under it just to avoid the flames, not to mention the heat and smoke burning their lungs.

[OverIt]

OMG. They obviously had no clue the kinds of temperatures that these all-encompassing fires produce. They could have boiled to death.

[Lucky123]

Or, the fire came much closer than they ever imagined and they panicked. And in their heads, being wet was a better alternative to being dry. Too many people are assuming that these folks planned this from the beginning, were merely hanging out in their tub. I really doubt that.

[OverIt]

Two words: Mandatory Evacuation.

[DRaymond]

Actually they made one big mistake, one which many people would do. What usually kills isn't so much the burns but breathing superheated air. The tissues of your lungs are much more tender than your skin.

[PhilipB]

Well,
Burns are a horrible injury.
I do not laugh at these people.
Hopefully others will learn from this and flee when you are faced with a fire.

[malodorousgit]

People really can't help being stupid, it's kind of like a disability, and we don't make fun of disabled people. And this seems so sad. Critically burned means they might die and probably have totally ruined lives if they do live.